Soot blower



1930- c. WHITON. JR.I. ETAL 1,786,182

SOOT BLOWER Filed July 30, 1926 fps wane Zoo/SC C Hard/g 3513 G-HowwqLOUIS C. WHI'I'ON, JR., AND JE]? 'C." HARDIGG, OF NEW YORK, N. YASSIGNORS TO- Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEFEAT-DANIEL CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N, Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORKSOOT BLOWER- Application filed July so;

This invention relates to cleaning tools which are adapted to blow awayaccumulations of soot, tar, pitch or other foreign matter such aschemicals, ash, dust and so forth, which accumulates in the cells orpassages of various kinds of apparatus through which gases are passed.While not limited thereto, the invention is peculiarly well adapted foruse in connection with heat exchangers or air preheaters. Air heaters orheat exchangers and similar apparatus frequently comprise a vast numberof closely spaced steel plates between which streams of gas or air arepassed. In certain known types of apparatus, plates approximately fivefeet high by ten feet long are placed side by side in parallel planesabout one inch apart. The gas or other heating fluid passes through tnecells thus formed and in time the plates become covered with soot orother foreign matter. It is desirable to periodically clean the platesand this can'be effectively done by directing jets of steam, air orother fluid through the space between the plates. It is important,however, not to have the jet of steam or air impinge against the platesbecause injury to the plate follows when the jet forcibly strikes theplate. Such a jet of fluid striking the plate causes a reaction whichquickly destroys the plate. For this reason, it is imperative that thesteam or other fluid jets be directed very accurately to the center ofthe space between adjacent plates. This presents a practical difliculty,however, because the plates of these preheaters are not alwaysaccurately spaced. Certain tolerances are allowed in their construction,hence, if a blower pipe is merely drilled with equally spaced holes,when the same is put to use, it will be found that the holes will notline up with the centers of the spacers of the cells of the preheater.To overcome this difficulty we have devised the novel soot blowerhereinafter more fully described which is provided with nozzles havingoutlet ports which can be accurately adjusted so as to center them withthe spaces or cells to be cleaned.

The invention will be clearly apparent from the following descriptionwhen read in 1 926. seen nofieas'oz,

connection with the accompanying drawings and the features of noveltywill be pointed out with particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings l v i Fig. 1 is a conventional representation of a knowntype of heat exchanger showing our improved soot blower combinedtherewith;

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating one form of the soot blower embodyingour invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 -3 of Fig. 2; r j

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view showing an alternative embodimentof the invention;

Fig. 5 is a detail View showing a slight modification of theconstruction shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail showing a further alter-' native construction.

In the drawings 10 represents a conventional preheater or heat exchangerwhich is made up of a multiplicity of spaced plates 12 defining a great0 number of air cells 14. Mounted in juxtaposition to'the cells is ourimproved soot blower indicated as a whole by numeral 16. As best shownin Figs. 2 and 3 the blower comprises a'pipe or conduit 18 which isprovided with a plurality of openings 20 which may be screw threaded asshown. Fitted in the openings 20 are nozzles 22 each having an outletport 2d which is eccentric to the opening 20. The nozzles shown in Figs.2 and 3 are of polygonal form in plan indicated at 26 to permit ofcoaction with a suitable wrench. The spacing between the centers 0 ofthe openings in the pipe is approximately equal to the spacings of thecells 14 in the heat exchanger or preheater. The spacing of the openingsin the pipe is preferably uniform though it isto'be understoodthat'where the space of the cells vary, the openings in the pipe 18 maybe varied to suit. However it is clear that due to tolerances allower insetting up the-heat exchanger and also due to inaccuracies, forexa1nple, in erroneously prick-punching the pipe before drillingdiscrepancies will creep in so that the drilled openings in which thenozzles are journalled will not accurately align with centers of thecells in the heater. To correct this error so as to bring the outletports of the nozzles into accurate position with respect to the centerof the cells 14 of the heater, it is merely necessary to turn thenozzles one way or the other so to secure ideal adjustment.

The nozzles may be of differ-em form from that shown in Figs. 2 and 3the point being that the outlet port thereof is eccentric-to thelongitudinal axis of the journal opening formed in the pipe 18. Forexample an alternative construction is shown in Fig. 4 wherein thenozzle 22 is in the form of a small pipe section having a portion 23threaded into the opening 20 and having an outlet portion 25offsettherefrom so that the outlet port 2 1- is eccentric to the ournalportion of the nozzle.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, the nozzle 22 is quite similar tothat shown in Fig. 4, it being formed with an obliquely inclined portionconnected with the journalled portion 27 and with the outlet portion 29.In the form last illustrated the nozzle is not screw threaded into thepipe but is journalled in a drilled hole. It is to be understood that inthe other figures the nozzles may be similarly secured. After theadjustment is made, the nozzles can, be located in place in variousmanners regardless of whether or not the same are screw threaded to thepipe. For eX- ample, a lock nut may be employed as shown at 21 in Fig.4. Or after the desired adjustment is secured, the nozzles may be keyed,spot welded or by staking the nozzles to the pipe by means of apriclnpunch or other suitable tool.

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified construction in which the rectangularblock 30 is secured to the pipe 18 and screwed into an opening 32 in theblock is a nozzle 34 having a port 36 therein which is eccentric to theopening 32 formed in the block.

The blower pipe 18 if desired may be fixedly secured in juxtaposition tothe heater or as shown in Fig. 1 may be mounted in bearings 19 arrangedto permit the pipe to be turned on its longitudinal axis so as to turnthe nozzles away from the position shown. Alternatively. the blower pipe18 may be mounted to swing radially on an axis at an angle to thelongitudinal axis of the pipe.

lVhile we have described quite precisely the specific details of certainembodiments of the invention illustrated, it is not to be construed thatwe are limited thereto since various modifications may be made withoutdeparture from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

hat we claim is 1. The combination with a heat exchanger having amultiplicity of spaced cells, of a blower comprising a pipe having anumber of substantially circular openings therein in approximatealignment with said cells, and adjustable nozzles journalled in saidopenings and having outlet ports eccentric thereto so that said portscan be accurately aligned with said cells by partially rotating thenozzles relatively to said pipe.

2. A blower of the class described comprising a pipe having atransversely ext-ending circular nozzle adjustably seated in said pipe,said nozzle consisting of a member having a single port of uniformsectional area through out its length, said port terminating in a singleoutlet orifice eccentric to the part of the nozzle seated in said pipe.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto signed our names.

LOUIS C. VVHITON, JR. JEP C. HARDIGG.

